Aintree’s betting ring is where the action heats up before each race, and there will be plenty of backers looking to support the favourites throughout three days.
Therefore, a glance at the jollies' record here in recent times could help to establish if that is a good strategy.
FAVOURITES
Aintree Festival Favs - since 2021
Year | W-R | Strike-rate | £1 | A/E |
2025 | 3-20 | 15% | -11 | 0.50 |
2024 | 9-19 | 47% | +4 | 1.38 |
2023 | 8-20 | 40% | +7 | 1.22 |
2022 | 4-19 | 21% | -8 | 0.62 |
2021 | 9-19 | 47% | +9 | 1.43 |
Overall | 33-97 | 34% | +1 | 1.04 |
Respect should be given to Aintree favourites, as they did manage to come out with their noses just in front during the last five years.
TOP THREE TRENDS FOR FAVOURITES
Aintree Festival Clear Favs - since 2021
Class | W-R | Strike-rate | £1 | A/E |
Grade 1 | 25-53 | 47% | +5 | 1.14 |
Grade 2 | 3-10 | 30% | 0 | 0.93 |
Grade 3 | 2-10 | 20% | +1 | 1.12 |
Non-Grade | 3-24 | 12% | -5 | 0.60 |
Aintree Festival Clear Favs - since 2021
Runs in last 90 days | W-R | Strike-rate | £1 | A/E |
0 runs | 3-7 | 43% | +5 | 1.56 |
1 run | 13-40 | 32% | +6 | 1.04 |
2 runs | 17-46 | 37% | -5 | 1.03 |
3 runs | 0-4 | 0% | -4 | 0.00 |
Aintree Festival Clear Favs - since 2021
Odds last time out | W-R | Strike-rate | £1 | A/E |
9-2 or shorter | 20-50 | 40% | -4 | 1.03 |
5-1 or bigger | 12-40 | 30% | +8 | 1.13 |
There are three very good pointers for following the favourites for the meeting, including those that weren’t overcooked at this time of the season with just 0-1 run during the last three months.
A closer look at these qualifiers also shows that those rested for 31 days or longer before Aintree struck at 13-33 (+16) - those with a shorter break were 3-13 (-5).
SECOND FAVOURITES
Aintree Festival Second Favs - since 2021
Year | W-R | Strike-rate | £1 | A/E |
2025 | 6-18 | 33% | +4 | 1.44 |
2024 | 3-16 | 19% | -1 | 0.83 |
2023 | 2-15 | 13% | -7 | 0.67 |
2022 | 4-15 | 27% | +2 | 1.23 |
2021 | 1-17 | 6% | -8 | 0.30 |
Overall | 16-81 | 20% | -11 | 0.93 |
The second favs didn’t come out as well as the favs to a blind level stake, but once again, the use of a few trends helped improve the numbers…
Aintree Festival Second Favs - since 2021
Year | W-R | Strike-rate | £1 | A/E |
Chase | 11-38 | 29% | +13 | 1.45 |
Hurdle | 5-34 | 15% | -15 | 0.64 |
NH Flat | 0-9 | 0% | -9 | 0.00 |
Aintree Festival Second Favs - since 2021
Distance | W-R | Strike-rate | £1 | A/E |
2m-2m1½f | 5-30 | 17% | -7 | 0.77 |
2m4f-2m5f | 8-25 | 32% | +8 | 1.40 |
3m½f-3m1½f | 3-23 | 13% | -9 | 0.63 |
4m2½f | 0-3 | 0% | -3 | 0.00 |
EACH-WAY VALUE
As for some each-way value away from the first two in the betting, then the following Aintree events should be considered, judged on recent history:
Aintree Races
Mersey Novices’ Hurdle: 9/1 to 20/1 – 6 placed from 13 runners
Fox Hunters Chase: 9/2 to 6/1 – 6 placed from 11 runners
Aintree Hurdle: 8/1 to 22/1 – 5 placed from 14 runners
Red Rum Handicap Chase: 15/2 to 12/1 – 9 placed from 22 runners
3m.5f Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle: 17/2 to 20/1 – 9 placed from 22 runners
Mersey Novices Hurdle: 17/2 to 20/1 – 6 placed from 16 runners
3m1f Listed Handicap Chase: 13/2 to 12/1 – 8 placed from 24 runners
A special mention goes to the Sefton Novices Hurdle which really threw up some big-priced placed runners in recent years at: 100/1, 66/1, 50/1, 28/1 & 25/1.